Saturday, April 30, 2011

FBI May Hunt Down and Destroy Botnets in Zombie PCs

The FBI has requested and received a preliminary injunction from a U.S. district judge to continuing issuing "stop" commands to the zombie machines infected with the Coreflood botnet. It is an essential step that is part of the agency's dramatic takedown of the botnet's command-and-control system earlier this month, an agent said in written testimony.

PLANAR SYSTEMS PEROT SYSTEMS

Skype 5.3 for Windows released, improves mobile video call quality

Version 5.3 of Skype for Windows has just been released, with the main emphasis of the new release being improved call quality, and the quality of video received by mobile Skype users. Presumably one party of the video call must be using Skype for Windows 5.3, though.

Beyond improved call quality, not much has changed. You can now see your friends' presence icons when contact cards are collapsed, and the topic editing button is now always visible on the conversation header. For a complete list of changes, hit up the Skype Garage blog.

Download Skype 5.3 for Windows
Skype 5.3 for Windows released, improves mobile video call quality originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

FIRST SOLAR FINISAR

BlackBerry Bold Touch makes brief appearance on RIM's website

As you may have have been able to discern from the multitude of leaks that have surfaced over the past few months, RIM is apparently getting set to debut a new touchscreen-equipped BlackBerry Bold at BlackBerry World next week. While still not completely official, that's now been all but confirmed by RIM itself, which briefly featured the teaser pictured above on its website before pulling it for reasons unknown. As you can see, RIM apparently couldn't help itself and promised that it will be a "bold step ahead," and it appears that the phone is unsurprisingly running BlackBerry 7, which until recently was better known as OS 6.1. Of course, that's hardly the only news we're expecting to hear at BlackBerry World, and you can be sure we'll be there to brave the puns and bring it all to you.

[Thanks, Matt]
BlackBerry Bold Touch makes brief appearance on RIM's website originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  CrackBerry  | Email this | Comments



TERADATA TELETECH HOLDINGS

HBO Go mobile app hands-on (video)

HBO Go has been live on the iTunes App Store and Android Market for just a few short hours, but we've already put it through the paces, poking and prodding on our iPad and iPhone, to see what all the hubbub's about. We're pleased with the hefty amount of video that HBO's offering up here, and the interface is pretty intuitive as well. Still, browsing through the myriad content on the iPad's larger screen is definitely a bit more leisurely than on the iPhone's 3.5-inch counterpart. Both apps sport the same feature set, so searching for content, saving things to watch later, and blasting updates to Facebook and Twitter will work well on whichever device you choose. To make the deal even sweeter, it's free for current subscribers, so there's really no reason to not check it out for yourself -- unless you don't have HBO, in which case we have a video walkthrough embedded after the break.

Update: Sorry Android users, but it looks like the only supported versions for the Android app are 2.1 - 2.3.3. However, we're getting reports that it does function in the browser -- so long as you've got Flash installed, of course. We're also told that the HBO Go site works just fine on the PlayBook as well.

Gallery: HBO Go hands-onContinue reading HBO Go mobile app hands-on (video)HBO Go mobile app hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Android Market, iTunes App Store  | Email this | Comments

INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM)

Daily Crunch: Action Shot Edition

The Tiny Fuuvi Pick Is A Cute But Practical Digital Camera Videos: Teen-Size Humanoid Hajime Is Playing Soccer Nicolas Cage?s Copy Of Action Comics #1 Found To Encourage Smugness, Garry?s Mod Creator Triggers Error Message For Pirated Versions Beware Of The ThinkGeek?s Chocolate Zombie Bunny

SPSS SPANSION

PBS Kids brings 'Super Why' to Android

OK, all you parents out there. Here's another one that's sure to keep the kids occupied for a good three, maybe four minutes. Chances are you've sat through an episode or two of PBS Kids' "Super Why" -- and now it's available on Android. For the uninitiated, "Super Why" is an award-winning children's TV show that teaches reading, spelling and story-telling. PBS describes the app as: The SUPER WHY App for Android helps children achieve the power to read with four fun SUPER WHY interactive literacy games in addition to a colorful virtual sticker book. Young learners can play along with each of the four main characters from the PBS KIDS series: Alpha Pig, Princess Presto, Wonder Red, and, of course, Super Why, while practicing the alphabet, rhyming, spelling, writing and reading. The app will cost $2.99 (as your kids for help -- they probably already know how to buy them), though it's free today on Amazon. Download it at the source link. Download: Amazon Appstore; Source: PBS
PBS Kids brings 'Super Why' to Android posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories



NII HOLDINGS NIKON

Daily Crunch: Analyze Edition

Microsoft Has Sold 350 Million Copies Of Windows 7 Happy Day Of Special Significance To Many Religions! We Have Brightly Colored iPhone Cables For You! The LIFEBOOK E741/C Is The World?s First Notebook With Built-In Contactless Palm Vein Sensor iGeigie: A Geiger Counter For Your iPhone Beer Gardens NYC App Goes 2.0 For Beer Garden [...]

HYNIX SEMICONDUCTOR INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES

Google Latitude check-in deals now available across the US

Recently, Google has been busy beefing up Latitude to make it more competitive with other location apps -- and more fun to use. Location history was added recently, iOS users can post check-ins via Latitude, and now Google has begun rolling out location-based deals which are tied to the service.

If you're in the U.S., you can now score local savings at participating merchants by checking in with Latitude. Google will also be offering "status deals," which users can unlock by visiting a particular merchant on a regular basis. Mashable notes three status levels: regular, VIP, and guru -- though partners can apparently customize those titles if they choose.

Right now deals are available from merchants like American Eagle Outfitters, Arby's, Finish Line, Macy's, Quiznos, and RadioShack.Google Latitude check-in deals now available across the US originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

MENTOR GRAPHICS IMS HEALTH

Daily Crunch: Sorted Edition

Frame Wars Weekend Giveaway: A Blackberry Playbook Video: The Evolution Of Mobile, As Told Through A Fancy 3D Projection Setup LEGO Mindstorms Project Sorts And Cleans Up Your Legos Man Buys Samsung 500GB Drive, Gets Screwed (Or Bolted, Rather) Technicolor Teams Up With Canon For New Digital Cinema Tools Mega Man Keychains, Part Deux

ROCKWELL AUTOMATION RF MICRO DEVICES

HomeBank: A Fine Financial App Once You Clear the Setup Hurdle

Keeping track of personal and business finances is one of the most essential tasks I do daily on my computer besides researching and writing about the Linux platform. Lately I am assigning much more of that task to HomeBank to keep my banking transactions in order. Do not confuse this personal accounting system with a banking institution of the same name, based in Martinsville, Ind.

LAWSON SOFTWARE LAND SOFTWARE

Details of Samsung's 'Alex' Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in tow

As we approach the expected mid-2011 launch for a few Chrome OS devices, it seems inevitable that some details are bound to slip out ahead of time -- here's looking at you, Acer ZGB and Seaboard. The latest victim outed by a Chromium bug report is the Samsung "Alex," which sports a 1280 x 800 display (probably at 10 inches as previously rumored; like the mockup above), 1.5GHz dual-core Atom N550, SanDisk SSD P4 of unknown capacity, and 2GB RAM. Also listed are a Qualcomm Gobi 2000 3G card, Bluetooth, WiFi, webcam, and a Synaptics touchpad. Well, not long to go now -- perhaps the Alex might even make a cheeky appearance at Google I/O in two weeks' time? Screenshot of the bug report after the break.

[Thanks, Marco]Continue reading Details of Samsung's 'Alex' Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in towDetails of Samsung's 'Alex' Chrome OS netbook leaked, Atom N550 in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 06:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Chrome Nieuws, BGR  |  Google Groups  | Email this | Comments



NETWORK APPLIANCE NETGEAR

Friday, April 29, 2011

HP webOS keyboard passes FCC smell test, won't zap you to death with radiation

We already got some hands-on time with HP's sleek webOS keyboard, and now it's the FCC's turn. The skinny peripheral -- that's Bluetooth Keyboard KT-1087 to you -- popped up on the Federal Communications Commission's site, stripped naked for the government filing enthusiasts of the world to collectively ogle. That hopefully means the rest of us will see the wireless add-on for sale in the near future, AA batteries not included -- it would sure go nicely with that HP TouchPad you've been eyeing. Those who get a perverse thrill watching unreleased products sprawled out, alien autopsy-style are encouraged to check out the gallery below.
Gallery: webOS Keyboard FCC FilingHP webOS keyboard passes FCC smell test, won't zap you to death with radiation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  FCC  | Email this | Comments



FISERV GOOGLE

The 7 Most Hackable Android Smartphones

Two types of people want to buy an Android smartphone: those who simply don't want an Apple product, and those who want to trick out their phones fancier than a Honda Civic from the set of The Fast and the Furious. If you're in the latter crowd, you may be familiar with at least some aspects of the hardware-modding community. But what of the layman who wants to pimp his phone and hasn't a clue where to begin?

EMS TECHNOLOGIES EMC

Things You Can Do With Your Instagram Photos [Instagram]

Instagram, the photo-centric social network, is pretty fun on its own. But did you know you can turn the photos you share on Instagram into tangible, real world objects? More »






FAIR ISAAC FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS

Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere

Color, the $41-million-in-funding location-oriented photo sharing startup, is susceptible to simple GPS spoofing. With nothing more than a jailbroken iPad or iPhone, you can use FakeLocation to trick Color into thinking you're somewhere else. Within seconds you can be browsing photos that were snapped thousands of miles away. With a little digging, you can pore through photos not intended for your eyes.

Of course, such a hack isn't illegal as such -- every photo you take with Color is public. With FakeLocation you are simply circumventing Color's very limited location-oriented security mechanism. It does undermine Color's usefulness (and uniqueness), though -- if nefarious types can sit in their bedroom or basement and eavesdrop on classy dinner parties and wild night club soirees, people might be less inclined to share personal photos with those around them.

Fortunately, both for Color and its users, this is an easy security hole to plug -- at least in the short term. The app (or server-side) code simply checks to see if the user has 'teleported' an impossibly large distance, without any intermediate steps in between. In the long term, though, Color's users must be aware that its social graph is completely public. Color's users must realize that every photo they upload is visible by anyone, from any place.

After the break, just to elucidate a little on Color's actual business model and ultimate intention, we have two amazing quotes from Bill Nguyen, Color's founder.Continue reading Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhereColor vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

AUTODESK AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING

The $2 Billion Dark-Matter-Hunting Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer [Monster Machines]

Whenever NASA launches its next-to-last space shuttle, the Endeavour—hopefully two days from now—it'll be hauling an appropriately epic payload: the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. More »






NIKON NINTENDO

Altaro Hyper-V Backup beta launched, only 250 places available

This one's for the sysadmins in the audience: Altaro, makers of our favorite "time machine for Windows" back solution, OopsBackup, have just announced a new product entering beta called Hyper-V Backup.


It's a backup solution for virtual machines running on Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualization solution. If that sentence just seemed like a bunch of buzzwords crammed together, Hyper-V backup is not for you. But, if you actually use Hyper-V and are hankering for a good backup solution, Altaro might be worth checking out.

The beta run is limited - Altaro are looking for just 250 testers. All participants will get a free license key to the final, production version. So if you're interested in helping test Hyper-V Backup, get yourself over to Altaro now and join the beta.Altaro Hyper-V Backup beta launched, only 250 places available originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

AMPHENOL ANIXTER INTERNATIONAL

Motorola Xoom LTE update delayed until summer, same time as Bionic launch

Motorola's just finished giving the news and the numbers on its quarterly financial report, and there was one bit of badness that we just had to share: the Xoom LTE upgrade has been delayed. We won't be seeing it until summer according to Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha, which is also when we'll be seeing the Bionic, a delay that we were already sulking about. Jha was a little vague about what the "issue" was that is causing the delay, only that whatever quality concern there is applies to both devices, and it could simply be that the company is waiting for its LTE rollout to get a little further along. Net result: one less G for Xoom owners until the summer, and no Bionic at all until then. Bummer.

In terms of the numbers: Motorola says that it shipped over 250,000 Xooms in the first quarter of the year, and managed net revenues of $3 billion. That's up 22 percent from this time last year, which brought losses down to $.27 per share -- much nicer than the $.72 in Q1 2010. Mobile device revenues were up 30 percent and 9.1 million total mobile devices were sold, of those almost half (4.1 million) were smartphones.Motorola Xoom LTE update delayed until summer, same time as Bionic launch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Droid Life, Motorola  | Email this | Comments



MILLICOM INTL CELLULAR MOBILE TELESYSTEMS

Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web

It sure is nice to see some new developer action over at Flickr. The relatively slow-moving photo-sharing service has just announced a new sharing update, which consists of several new and easy ways to embed or link to your photos:


Share from Photo page: There's a new sharing option on each and every photo page. When logged off, the button shows only Facebook and Twitter options. But once you log on, you get Tumblr and Blogger too, and can configure other sharing venues as well.

Share non-public content on Facebook: This doesn't sound like a great idea, but you now can share private photos on Facebook if you're so inclined (and if you trust your privacy settings).

That's the gist of the update; it makes it easier to show off your pretty pictures in a plethora of places.Flickr adds to sharing options, now easier to share photos across the Web originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS

Teleprompter Inventor Hub Schlafly Scrolls Up to that Big Newscast In the Sky [Memorium]

In the late 1940s, a young television engineer was called upon to figure out a way for actors to better remember their lines. Hubert "Hub" Schlafly wasted no time with the assignment, devising a motorized scroll in a half-suitcase that was placed just off camera. The teleprompter—and decades of assured newscasts and stump speeches—was born. More »






ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING ELECTRONIC DATA SYSTEMS

LG's MeeGo smartphone and tablet prototypes to be demonstrated next month

You may have written off MeeGo handsets after Nokia all but abandoned the OS -- LG hasn't. While the company doesn't have any "definitive plans" to release a MeeGo smartphone commercially yet, LG is willing to show off some ports of MeeGo on multiple prototypes, including tablets and smartphones, at next month's MeeGo conference in San Francisco. With any luck, LG will use the spotlight to announce its intentions, proper like, and make a MeeGo handset running Intel silicon a retail reality in 2011.LG's MeeGo smartphone and tablet prototypes to be demonstrated next month originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  MeeGo Experts  | Email this | Comments

ACER ADOBE SYSTEMS

Accel Invests $35M. in 99designs?After Years of Trying

Accel Partners has invested $35 million in the crowdsource design service 99designs-- a monster of a series A. Of course, 99designs is not your average early-stage startup. Born in Melbourne, Australia out of an older company called sitepoint.com, 99designs is bootstrapped, profitable and growing revenues at a rate of about 120% a year.

A few strategic angel investors also participated including Michael Dearing, Stewart Butterfield, Dave Goldberg and Anthony Casalena. Accel's Andrew Braccia and Ryan Sweeney will join the board along with Dearing.

The growth helps explain why Braccia has been courting this deal since 2009. And he wasn't alone. 99designs CEO Patrick Llewellyn says several VCs have been pinging the company, and until now, they've all been turned away. They all seem to find out about the company the same way: One of their portfolio companies uses the service to get a good, cheap logo.

RED HAT RADISYS

Thursday, April 28, 2011

iPhone turntable concept brings dropped calls to your record collection

Any audiophile worth their weight in 180 gram vinyl will gladly tell you that nothing sounds quite as good as a record. Unfortunately, the format has a few major drawbacks, like a lack of portability and the fact that it really sucks at making phone calls. The iPhone, on the other hand, is light years ahead of those fronts -- well, one of out two ain't bad. This new concept from designer Olivier Meynard offers the best of both worlds, embedding a horizontal iPhone dock next to a wheel of steel, so you can play back your favorite LP through the built-in speakers and encode those tracks as MP3s, which are uploaded to your handset as it charges. Finally, a way to turn your long out of print prog rock albums into ringtones, as they were meant to be heard.iPhone turntable concept brings dropped calls to your record collection originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Yanko Design  | Email this | Comments



SCIENTIFIC GAMES SANDISK

Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3

If you've had your head under a rock for the last few days, here's this week's Firefox news in brief: Firefox 4 was finally released.

Yes, 13 months after the initial release of Firefox 3.7 alpha 1 and four more alpha builds, a renumbering to 4.0 and 12 beta releases, and finally a release candidate (or two), Firefox 4 has been released into the wild.

Just like every other Firefox release, initial reception for the new browser has been nothing short of insane. 7.1 million downloads were registered in the first 24 hours and the download rate continued to accelerate, clocking in more than 15 million downloads after two days. At the time of writing, three days in, Firefox 4 has been downloaded over 25 million times. In case you're wondering, the United States accounts for 7 million of those downloads, just beating out Germany's Firefox-downloads-per-capita.

But now that you've installed Firefox 4 (you have, right?), what do you do now? Well, obviously, in true Download Squad fashion, it's time to tweak Firefox 4 using add-ons and about:config hacks!

First up is an add-on called Stratiform that lets you change every aspect of the Firefox 4 browser chrome -- including the color of that orange button!Continue reading Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3Firefox 4 Friday: 25 million downloads, anti-aliasing, and how to make it look like Firefox 3 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

QIMONDA QUALCOMM

The Complete Guide To Watching And Tracking The Royal Wedding Online

For any of you caught up in the frenzy over the royal wedding between England's Prince William and Kate Middleton, we've collected a comprehensive list of where to watch the festivities online, where to find photos, dedicated mobile apps, Twitter accounts following the Royal Wedding and more.

As opposed to the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, this Royal Wedding is particularly unique because of the web didn't exist back then. And neither did social media. This will be one of the most publicized and watched weddings in history and thh whole world is invited to view and comment both on TV and the web.

MOTOROLA MOODYS

Opera 11.10 includes improved power saving features

Just recently, the Opera 11.10 release candidate was made available for download. It brought a handful of important feature additions -- like HTML5 File API support and IMAP enhancements -- and loads of bugfixes. Nestled in amongst the other details in the Opera team's announcement is one more interesting tidbit: Opera 11.10 offers improved battery optimizations.

The timing here is certainly interesting, what with Microsoft's recent report on how much power the top five Web browsers consume. In its findings, Opera 11 was fairly low in the standings. While we've not seen any new benchmarks yet, we're curious to know whether the Opera 11.10 RC offers any significant gains.

If you're running Opera 11.10 on a laptop, let us know if you're seeing an improvement in your battery life while browsing!Opera 11.10 includes improved power saving features originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

AVNET BHARTI AIRTEL

Cooliris Turns Liveshare Into An Insanely Fast Media Sharing Tool

Silicon Valley startup Cooliris demoed the next version of its social communication and media sharing app LiveShare to me earlier this week, and I was blown away by exactly how instant the sharing of photos, videos and whatnot has become. The tool, which isn't available yet, is shown in a demo video (embedded below).

Cooliris LiveShare lets you share photos, videos, maps, articles and more with others by the tap of a button or simply by dragging content to a stream or group of people. As you can tell from the video, the sharing itself is as real-time as real-time can get.

VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY VIRGIN MEDIA

Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app

If you're a baseball fanatic, the MLB At Bat app is a must-have. It's packed with live updates, scores, stats, news, and videos -- and right now there's another great reason to pick up At Bat. Pony up for At Bat and you'll get to enjoy MLB.tv free for the entire month of April.

The service streams games in HD to just about any connected device you can imagine, from iPhone to PS3, and even Roku boxes and LG Internet-ready televisions. The basic subscription will set you back $99 for the season, and a Premium sub is an extra $20 (and adds DVR functionality, multi-game PIP, and more).

MLB At Bat is available for Android and iOS and both apps run to $14.99 US.Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

CISCO SYSTEMS COGNIZANT TECH SOLUTIONS

White iPhone Finally Available, Just 10 Months Late

The near mythical white iPhone 4 has finally launched, just ten months after it was first announced. The white version of the iPhone was supposed to go on sale at the same time as the black one, way back in June 2010.
Speculation on the cause of the delay has of course been in direct proportion [...]

OSI SYSTEMS ORACLE

Blog From Your iPad Using Blogsy App

Apps continue to evolve for the iPad each day. If you’re a fellow blogger who wants to easily create WordPress blog posts using your iPad or iPad 2 then Blogsy is a must have app. Blogsy combined with the power of WordPress make blogging from your iPad simple and efficient, exactly how it should be. [...]

NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS NOVELLUS SYSTEMS

The Roastie Toaster Concept Rotates to Reach Toasty Perfection [Concepts]

Who doesn't love toast? I don't want to hear it! It's taking bread to another level. But sometimes bread doesn't toast evenly! This Roastie Toaster is a concept design by Mateusz Gl�wka that not only has a lovely see through spherical body but also has rotating heating elements (those metal beams) that give your bread the even crispiness it deserves. I totally could've used the Roastie this morning when my toast was burnt on the bottom corners. [Mateusz Gl�wka via Laughing Squid] More »






AUTODESK AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING

Zapd: Yes, You Really Can Whip Up a Web Page in 60 Seconds

I ran into a surprisingly compelling app with a short, funny name: Zapd, by PressPlane. It's basically an iPhone or iPod app that lets you create snazzy-looking websites really fast. PressPlane says you can do it in 60 seconds from your iPhone, and if you're really warmed up and on a wicked fast Internet connection, sure, you can create a live site with a real URL in 60 seconds.

ZORAN ZIONS BAN

Liking Things on Facebook Is a Dangerous Game [Humor]

Liking something on Facebook is sometimes like going to a charity event where you "Raise Money for Cancer." No! That's not what you meant! You just wanted to draw awareness to the... aw, well, you know the feeling: More »






FIRST SOLAR FINISAR

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Nikon's D5100 impresses, captures children's birthday parties with incredible clarity

We're not the only site to put Nikon's new mid-range DSLR through its paces. Plenty of others have taken the D5100 for a spin and we thought you might like to know: they're all pretty impressed. The new 1080p30 video mode was much appreciated as was the larger, higher resolution swivel screen around back. The biggest props generally went to the improved high-ISO performance (which was already quite respectable on the D5000 it's replacing) and the boost in autofocus speed, especially when using the LCD as a view finder in Live View mode. Oddly, the built-in effects also garnered a lot of attention. The Miniature Effect (a tilt-shift simulator) and Selective Color mode impressed reviewers the most with their surprising level of sophistication for in-camera processing. All of the effects can also be used when shooting video, so you can make your HD footage look like black and white 8mm by turning on Night Vision. Criticisms were relatively minor and applicable to most mid- and entry-level DSLRs -- primarily that the body is plasticy and there is a slight lag in focus and shutter performance. The D5100 is an obvious upgrade over the D5000 and more than holds its own against its competitors, but if you want to dig deeper check out our review and the ones below.

Read - DPReview
Read - Photography Blog
Read - CNET
Read - Nikon Rumors
Read - Pocket-Lint
Read - Pocket-Lint (2)Nikon's D5100 impresses, captures children's birthday parties with incredible clarity originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

RACKABLE SYSTEMS QUEST SOFTWARE

TweetDeck to launch as HTML5 Web app, now accepting beta testers

When TweetDeck landed in the Chrome Web Store, it seemed like an indication that it might eventually evolve into a pure HTML5 Web app. Now it looks as though that's exactly what's going to happen, with TweetDeck announcing that a new, not-just-for-Chrome Web client is ready for beta testing.

It's a natural progression for TweetDeck, especially since its originally Adobe Air app is practically all Web code. TweetDeck Web will sport a feature set which is nearly identical to the Chrome app, with the notable exception of Twitter streaming.

Initially, TweetDeck is targeting Firefox 4 and 3.6, Google Chrome, and Safari. Opera and Internet Explorer 9 won't be invited to the dance until a bit later on.

If you'd like to get in on the TweetDeck Web beta, head on over and register -- or sign up using your existing TweetDeck account.TweetDeck to launch as HTML5 Web app, now accepting beta testers originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY KEY

Sony Makes Quirky Entrance Into Tablet Market

Sony is developing its first entries into the tablet market. The tablets are going by the code names "S1" and "S2," and they will be available in the global market in fall 2011. S1 will be optimized for rich media entertainment, and S2 will be optimized for mobile communication and entertainment. The Sony tablets utilize the latest Android OS -- version 3.0, aka "Honeycomb" -- which is designed for use on large screens.

CANON MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS

This is how they greet a new bullet train in Japan [Video]

How? With a great screaming happy wall of people dressed up in superhero costumes who line the entire track, that’s how. Even if you take into account the Japanese love for Shinkansen and the fact that this is a company video by JR West, it’s a remarkable show. Homework assignment: spot the Power Rangers—then imagine the same in Europe or the US. (H/T to Marci–X) More »






CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR ACCENTURE

iPad 2 Folio Smart Case Made From Duct Tape

Who would have ever thought the iPad and duct tape could merge together so well? The crew over at Coregeek.net has done it again with a new DIY project, this time for the iPad 2. This clever iPad 2 accessory may never appear on shelves at your local Best Buy store, but hey it’s a [...]

MCAFEE MAXIMUS

RIM acquires Tungle, might soon bridge your calendar across platforms

The BlackBerry PlayBook may be noticably lacking a calendar app of its own (at least for now), but it looks like RIM could soon have more scheduling options than ever -- it's just acquired fellow Canadian company Tungle, which specializes in syncing your calendar across platforms. At the moment, that's done with either the company's web application, or its iOS or BlackBerry app (an Android version has also been promised), which also let you share your calendar with folks inside or outside your company and, of course, tie it into your various social networks -- so you can learn about the person you're having a meeting with, for instance. As you might expect, however, RIM is staying mum on exactly what it has in mind for the company, and it also isn't divulging any specific terms of the acquisition. Head on past the break for a video demonstrating how the current service works.Continue reading RIM acquires Tungle, might soon bridge your calendar across platformsRIM acquires Tungle, might soon bridge your calendar across platforms originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink @niron (Twitter)  |  Tungle  | Email this | Comments

OPENWAVE SYSTEMS ON SEMICONDUCTOR

Hulu Plus comes to Xbox 360 April 29th according to OXM

Here's something to ponder -- will Hulu Plus launch on the Xbox 360 before or after we can sign back into the PSN and change our passwords try out the PS3's latest version? Sony better hurry, since copies of the June issue of OXM have been spotted that claim the service will launch April 29th, kicking off a month-long giveaway of items including vacations, game systems and Hulu Plus subscriptions to random users. Joystiq confirmed with OXM that the date is actually in the magazine so all that's left now is the official word, a new app on our dashboards and plenty of gesture and voice controlled madness.Hulu Plus comes to Xbox 360 April 29th according to OXM originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 20:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Joystiq  | Email this | Comments



FEI COMPANY FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL

Ask DLS: What's your primary Web browser?

Competition is a good thing, and the browser arena has been a fierce arena for years now. There are at least four "major" browsers each vying for your attention, along with lots of smaller spin-offs (SRWare Iron or Flock, anyone?).

While the browser usage charts we share from time to time show overall browser usage amongst the Web at large, Download Squad readers are not exactly the average bunch in terms of browser use. So today we have one simple question for you:

What's your primary Web browser?

View PollAsk DLS: What's your primary Web browser? originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

SYNTEL SYNTAXBRILLIAN

HTC Wildfire S available SIM-free in the UK from tomorrow

 HTC's entry-level Wildfire S will get an earlier than expected SIM-free release via British online retailer Clove, according to a post on the company's official blog. Clove says it'll begin shipping the black version of the Wildfire S tomorrow, with the silver version (seen above) following sometime next week. Both flavors will set you back £238.80.Other retailers such as Amazon.co.uk are still listing the Wildfire S as due for release on May 6 (silver) and May 12 (black). Check out our hands-on coverage of the diminutive handset from Mobile World Congress to find out more. [Clove Blog]HTC Wildfire S available SIM-free in the UK from tomorrow posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories



NOKIA NVIDIA

HP TouchPad hits the FCC

Much of the report expectedly remains confidential, but HP was at least kind enough to repeatedly mention "TouchPad" in its latest FCC filing, which saves us a bit of digging, and presumably means that the webOS tablet remains on track for a US launch fairly soon -- sometime in June, last we heard. Might it also get a few more cloud-based additions before then? Perhaps HP will have more to say at its Veer-focused event that's already scheduled for May 2nd.HP TouchPad hits the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  FCC  | Email this | Comments



INTUIT INTERSECTIONS

BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak

A leaked early version of RIM's upcoming BlackBerry Messenger 6 has been making the rounds since late February, but images of the new app are just now beginning to appear. Over at CrackBerry, the crew has shared a handful of images of BBM 6 in action. Unfortunately, you won't get a glimpse at a chat or file transfer -- only the profile screens (after the break) and what you see above. All that's really revealed so far is the option to set custom contact and chat colors and BlackBerry OS 6.1-style icons.

CrackBerry also warns against installing the leaked BBM 6 app. There's no guarantee this app hasn't been tampered with, and BlackBerry devices are becoming a more common target for cybercriminals.Continue reading BlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leakBlackBerry Messenger 6.0 screenshots leak originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

SAIC SATYAM COMPUTER SERVICES

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Gideon Yu: ?The Drama Of Being A Venture Capitalist Isn?t Really For Me?

Gideon Yu, the former CFO of Facebook who left two years ago to become a partner at Khosla Ventures, is leaving venture capital to become the chief strategy officer of the San Francisco 49ers. "The drama of being a venture capitalist isn?t really for me," he tells me. But he insists, "I am absolutely not leaving tech."

Yu will remain on the boards of Square and Meebo, and says he works one day a week at Square. He wants to remain active investing and helping startups, but not as a full-time venture capitalist. One option was to become an affiliate partner, but that didn't work out. Instead, he plans to keep investing his own money as an angel investor. The rumor in Silicon Valley is that he left Facebook with stock worth $500 million. He won't comment on his net worth other than to say that he made more than he ever thought he would.

VERISIGN VERIFONE HOLDINGS

ASUS Eee Pad Transformer goes on sale in US, immediately sells out at Amazon

The US had to wait for its Eee Pad Transformer launch a little longer than the rest of the world, but it's finally gotten its wish today and consumers' reaction seems to have been nothing short of voracious. Amazon's order page for the $400 Android 3.0 tablet appears to have gone from "in stock" to "out of stock" within mere minutes, while Target -- the supplier fulfilling orders on behalf of Amazon -- also lists the Transformer as presently unavailable. ASUS' own Where To Buy page leads us to a bunch of dead ends as well, with Best Buy being the only retailer we can currently find with stock in the US. We can't say for sure whether we're looking at overwhelming demand or just limited supply, but it's hard to argue with ASUS' excellent value proposition here: a 10-inch IPS display, a dual-core SOC and a feature-rich tablet OS all for less than four Benjamins. You'll just need to be quick on the trigger if you want one.

[Thanks, Noah]ASUS Eee Pad Transformer goes on sale in US, immediately sells out at Amazon originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:56:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink SlickDeals.net  |  Amazon, Best Buy, ASUS (Where To Buy)  | Email this | Comments

APPLIED MATERIALS ARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT

Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5

As far as Tetris goes, most variations look quite similar. You're usually looking at a "wall" of bricks directly from the front. Torus takes that notion and throws it away; as you might have guessed from the name (or screenshot), this Tetris clone is played on a ring-like 3D surface.

You rotate the ring itself with the arrow keys, while a Tetris-like piece slowly (excruciatingly slowly, in fact) descends from the top. As soon as you make a solid line, it disappears.

Not all pieces are Tetris-like; some of them wouldn't really work with a regular Tetris game but are a good fit for Torus' 3D format.

Torus is ideal for playing at the office, because it has absolutely no soundtrack. The game is dead-quiet. It's also very very slow (slow enough for me to mention it twice in one post) so you can safely look away for a moment and then keep playing. Also, as soon as the game loses focus, it automatically pauses.

Bottom line: It's an impressive demo of the power of HTML5; if it were a bit faster, it would have some serious addictive potential.Torus is an impressive 3D Tetris game powered by HTML5 originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

IBASIS HYPERCOM

Nissan Leaf entered in 2011 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, can feel free to just coast back down again

There are many, many tests of automotive performance throughout the average calendar year, yet the Pikes Peak Hill Climb stands out as one of America's most historic and most brutal. Oh, and most pucker-inducing, what with the general lack of guardrails and corner edges bounded by nothing but thousands of feet of free-fall -- then rocks. This is the challenge that an unmodified Nissan Leaf will face this summer, all 110 horsepower dedicated to hitting the summit in a time that hopefully won't be too embarrassing but surely won't challenge the current EV record of 13 minutes and 17 seconds. Driver Chad Hord will sit behind the wheel when the event gets underway on June 26th, burning nary a drop of gas on the way up and putting on something less of a show than Ari Vatanen did in his (traditionally-powered) Peugeot back in 1990. That rather invigorating performance is embedded below for your viewing pleasure.Continue reading Nissan Leaf entered in 2011 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, can feel free to just coast back down againNissan Leaf entered in 2011 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, can feel free to just coast back down again originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Autoblog  | Email this | Comments



TRIDENT MICROSYSTEMS TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS

Burrito Bison is a simple game for gummy bear lovers

Burrito Bison is a pretty simple game, but if you're into gummy bears you might find it addictive.

As you may have guessed from the name, you're a bison (not a burrito, though). In the course of your day-to-day grocery shopping, you're abducted into a bag of gummy bears, and must now fend for yourself.

At the beginning of each round you launch yourself onto the marching gummy (gummi?) bears, while you're being watched by a huge crowd of even more gummy bears. Your goal is to keep bouncing on the bears and earn more and more money while you do it. Every time you hit a gummy bear, you lose some momentum. If you hit the floor, you basically lose all of it.

But don't give up just yet! You have an emergency thrust which you can use to gain some momentum and keep bouncing on those bears. This extra thrust gets refilled as you hit more bears.

There are also special gummy bears that give you extra thrust or extra money. The money comes in handy at the end of each round, when you can shop for cool stuff to make your bison even more effective against those gummy bears.

It's a fun and colorful game that kept my interest for quite some time, and almost sent me running to the closest store to get some gummy bears!Burrito Bison is a simple game for gummy bear lovers originally appeared on Download Squad on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

FIDELITY NATIONAL INFORMATION SVCS FISERV

Keep a Grip on Your Gadgets with the Nano-Pad

Don’t let the iPhone in the picture fool you – the Nano-Pad can be used with most any gadget.� The Nano-Pad is made of silicone in Germany, and Viacop Ltd of Winchester is the sole UK distributor.� The Nano-Pad uses no adhesives, but it grips your car dashboard and your gadget to hold it in [...]

LAM RESEARCH L1 IDENTITY SOLUTIONS

Even If You Black Out, This App Won't Let You Forget Your Credit Card at the Bar [App]

Losing your possessions can be a pretty unnerving experience. It's one of the worst feelings: knowing that you had your keys/wallet/backpack when you left your apartment only to be locked out/broke/laptop-less when you get home. One iPhone app is looking to change this, however. More »






SES SHAW COMMUNICATIONS

Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app

If you're a baseball fanatic, the MLB At Bat app is a must-have. It's packed with live updates, scores, stats, news, and videos -- and right now there's another great reason to pick up At Bat. Pony up for At Bat and you'll get to enjoy MLB.tv free for the entire month of April.

The service streams games in HD to just about any connected device you can imagine, from iPhone to PS3, and even Roku boxes and LG Internet-ready televisions. The basic subscription will set you back $99 for the season, and a Premium sub is an extra $20 (and adds DVR functionality, multi-game PIP, and more).

MLB At Bat is available for Android and iOS and both apps run to $14.99 US.Get free MLB.tv access during April with MLB.com At Bat app originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

NETGEAR NCR

New York Libraries: Come on in and Watch Some Porn [Porn]

If you don't mind getting your face punched in, New York's public libraries might just be your new favorite place to watch people have sex with each other on the internet. Sure, you're surrounded by other patrons, but it's free! More »






SYNNEX SYMANTEC

Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7

We've been looking at some pretty cool Kinect and Windows interactions for a while now, but we were hoping that the release of an official SDK would lead to even more coolness. Evoluce has stepped up, and is now offering Win&I -- a full-featured gesture control system for Windows 7.

The company claims that a range of up to four meters is supported, which should be perfect for just about any home theater setting. In the video embedded after the break, you can see an Evoluce demonstrator flip through a photo album, pan through a map, rearrange application windows, browse the Web, and control media playback. Two versions of Win&I are offered -- the home version goes for about 20 Euros, the business version for 40.

Anyone else having fun pretending his stance is a little "Iron Man"? We're tempted to put a repulsor on that hand.Continue reading Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7Evoluce Win&I brings Kinect gesture controls to Windows 7 originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

ZORAN ZIONS BAN

Monday, April 25, 2011

Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere

Color, the $41-million-in-funding location-oriented photo sharing startup, is susceptible to simple GPS spoofing. With nothing more than a jailbroken iPad or iPhone, you can use FakeLocation to trick Color into thinking you're somewhere else. Within seconds you can be browsing photos that were snapped thousands of miles away. With a little digging, you can pore through photos not intended for your eyes.

Of course, such a hack isn't illegal as such -- every photo you take with Color is public. With FakeLocation you are simply circumventing Color's very limited location-oriented security mechanism. It does undermine Color's usefulness (and uniqueness), though -- if nefarious types can sit in their bedroom or basement and eavesdrop on classy dinner parties and wild night club soirees, people might be less inclined to share personal photos with those around them.

Fortunately, both for Color and its users, this is an easy security hole to plug -- at least in the short term. The app (or server-side) code simply checks to see if the user has 'teleported' an impossibly large distance, without any intermediate steps in between. In the long term, though, Color's users must be aware that its social graph is completely public. Color's users must realize that every photo they upload is visible by anyone, from any place.

After the break, just to elucidate a little on Color's actual business model and ultimate intention, we have two amazing quotes from Bill Nguyen, Color's founder.Continue reading Color vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhereColor vulnerable to simple GPS hack, lets you spy on anyone, anywhere originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

COSMOTE MOBILE TELECOM DLINK

'Frank' Talk About Cloud Architecture

The great contemporary architect Frank Gehry has built a reputation by challenging our core beliefs around what buildings should look like, as well as the very role of design. His work is often described as "deconstructivist," meaning that he reduces his creations to be more of a reflection of the tension that binds atomic elements as opposed to the singular "harmonic" whole of a Frank Lloyd Wright conception.

TECHNITROL TAKETWO INTERACTIVE SOFTWARE

Sand Trap is a fun and difficult physics maze game

Sand Trap is one of those games that at first seem too hard to bother with, but when you try to stop playing it you discover you're hooked.

The goal is to get as much sand as you possibly can out of the maze and into the bucket at the bottom of the screen. You need to rotate your maze every which way to get the sand rolling around it. You then try to direct the sand to one of the exits of the maze, and hopefully into the bucket. It took me several tries to actually get sand into the bucket, but that might be due to the fact that I didn't even realize the bucket was there at first. Things improved significantly after that.

As you level up, the mazes get more complicated, with moving parts and other things making your life more difficult. Once you manage to get through all these obstacles and get enough sand into your bucket, you can move on.

As I mentioned, this is not an easy game, but it's highly addictive. The graphics remind me of some long lost game from the 80s, but this just proves that you don't need super graphics and crazy sound to make a game work. There's a soothing guitar track playing in the background and that's it, as far as I could hear, and you can enjoy it just as much with no sound at all.

If you like a fun physics challenge, don't miss out on this one!Sand Trap is a fun and difficult physics maze game originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS INTEL

Google holds back on open-sourcing Honeycomb, heralds massive shift for Android

Google, in an interesting but not entirely unexpected twist, will not be open-sourcing Android 3.0 Honeycomb for the foreseeable future.

Historically, Android is usually open-sourced via the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) a few days or weeks after the code is finalized. While this departure from the norm won't affect OEMs like HTC and Motorola that have access to internal builds of Android, small-time developers will likely have to wait months before rolling their own distributions.

As to why Google is holding back Honeycomb, its reasons are actually rather rational. Honeycomb, while originally intended to run on all mobile form factors, is only ready for deployment on tablets. "To make our schedule to ship the tablet, we made some design tradeoffs," says Andy Rubin, the head of Google's Android group. "We didn't want to think about what it would take for the same software to run on phones. It would have required a lot of additional resources and extended our schedule beyond what we thought was reasonable. So we took a shortcut."

In other words, Google wants to prevent OEMs and homebrew developers like Cyanogen from rolling their own smartphone versions of Honeycomb -- it doesn't want to see the same bitter-tasting tabletified bastardization that occurred with Android 2.1 and 2.2 last year.Continue reading Google holds back on open-sourcing Honeycomb, heralds massive shift for AndroidGoogle holds back on open-sourcing Honeycomb, heralds massive shift for Android originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

SRA INTERNATIONAL SPSS

Interlocked is a three-dimensional brain teaser

Back when I was a kid, I used to love crafting ornate puzzle boxes out of Lego. There would be just one way to open the box, by carefully shifting and rotating a bunch of pieces. Well, either that, or breaking the box in frustration.

Interlocked takes that spirit and turns it into a beautiful Flash game. It's a good thing the soundtrack is soothing, because the game itself can get pretty frustrating.

At the start of each level, you're presented with a box built out of blocks in different colors. You can click and drag the mouse to rotate the box any which way. Once you decide you want to shift a part of the box, hit SPACE to switch into "move" mode. You can then click any part of the box and drag it. Of course, you can only move a part as long as nothing is in its way. So it becomes a matter of understanding how the box is built, and what parts you need to move around so you could eventually take the box apart.

It's a tricky, difficult game, but it's a great brain teaser -- and definitely a keeper.Interlocked is a three-dimensional brain teaser originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

COSMOTE MOBILE TELECOM DLINK

The Week's Best Android Apps [Video]

CNN: CNN's been glaringly absent from Android phones for a long time (it's been on Honeycomb for a while now) but that's all fixed now! You get to watch live video, receive breaking news notifications, CNN radio, a customizable widget and more. Must have for news junkies. Free. More »






SAIC SATYAM COMPUTER SERVICES

How to Keep Your iPad Location Data Secure and Private

You may not be aware of this but the location of your iPad 3G or iPhone is constantly being tracked. Also, each time you create backups or sync your device that information is being logged. If you are using default security settings anyone can access your personal data and location. The fact that this data [...]

DST SYSTEMS DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES

Best Buy Pegs White iPhone U.S. Launch Date at April 27 [Leaks]

Mere days ago (two, specifically), the UK caught wind of the much ballyhooed, but oft not seen white iPhone 4. It might ship next week! Exciting, if you're into white smartphones, but what of the U.S. market? More »






QUANTA COMPUTER RESEARCH IN MOTION

British royal family announces iOS and Android wedding app

To celebrate the imminent marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Royal Collection will release an Android an iOS app that chronicles the last seven royal marriages, including Queen Victoria's marriage to Prince Albert in 1840.

Ironically, the app won't actually feature anything to do with William and Kate's marriage -- rather, it will focus on the "tradition, splendor and romance" that are intrinsic to British royal marriages. "[The app] will share the stories of past royal weddings and offer a wealth of historical context for the ceremony on April 29."

Unfortunately, the app, which has been lumbered with the fantastically creative name of 'Royal App,' won't be available until April 18 -- just 11 days before Kate's big day. It won't be free, either: it'll cost the rather princely sum of £1.79, or three of your Tea Party-loving dollars. The money will go to the Royal Collection, though, which is a good cause!British royal family announces iOS and Android wedding app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

UNISYS TRIQUINT SEMICONDUCTOR

Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements

The crew in Oslo keeps plugging away at Opera 11.10, and the latest snapshot build includes a number of improvements to Opera's built-in email client -- as well as HTML5-related additions.

On the IMAP front, Opera now supports special folders like sent items, spam, and trash. It also better handles duplicate items in Gmail -- such as those which appear in all mail and under your custom labels.

Opera 11.10 now partially supports the HTML5 File API as well, which means your favorite Web apps (like Gmail) may soon begin adding Opera to the list of supported browsers.

You can download the latest Opera 11.10 snapshot for Windows, Mac, or Linux from the official release post.

Update: The Opera 11.10 RC is now available, as pointed out by SlashZaku in the comments. Thanks!Opera 11.10 gets HTML5 File API support, IMAP improvements originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

PEROT SYSTEMS PALM

@AmericanAir, You Suck

As I sit here writing this post, I am on board an American Airlines flight from Chicago to New York City. I consider it a minor miracle that the plane is actually in the air. After two cancelled flights on this trip alone, a seat without a cushion, and some trouble counting the number of people on the plane which made us return to the gate a second time after another minor problem, I've lost count of how many errors American Airlines has now made in this comedy that is my travels. Oh, and @AmericanAir also managed to prove that it is an utterly toothless marketing arm of American which fails when it comes to providing actual customer service. I never thought I'd say this as a loyal American Airlines customer who has travelled hundreds of thousands of miles on American over the years, but it may now be worse than Delta.

Yes, this is going to be a rant. If that's not your thing, avert your eyes. There isn't any one thing I can point to that makes me never want to fly American again. Rather, it is everything?a succession of flubs and foibles. I like to believe I am a pretty tolerant air traveler, but everyone has a breaking point.

SPSS SPANSION

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Carnegie Mellon's GigaPan Time Machine brings time-lapse to panoramas

We've already seen GigaPan technology used for plenty of impressive panoramas, but some researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have now gone one step further with their so-called "GigaPan Time Machine" project. Thanks to the magic of HTML5 and some time-consuming (but automated) photography, you can now "simultaneously explore space and time" right in your web browser -- that is, zoom in and around a large-format panorama that also happens to be a time-lapse video. If you don't feel like exploring yourself, you can also jump straight to some highlights -- like the like the construction of the Hulk statue at the CMU Carnival pictured above. Ht up the source link below to try it out -- just make sure you're in either Chrome and Safari, as they're the only compatible browsers at this time.Continue reading Carnegie Mellon's GigaPan Time Machine brings time-lapse to panoramasCarnegie Mellon's GigaPan Time Machine brings time-lapse to panoramas originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  GigaPan Time Machine  | Email this | Comments



CANON MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS

9 Temporary Structures that Grew into Cultural Icons [Architecture]

Technically, this shouldn't still exist. Originally meant to be dismantled after the 1897 Tennessee Centenial Expo, the Nashville Parthenon was such a hit with the public it became a permanent attraction. Our friends at Oobject have some other great examples of temporary architecture with staying power. More »






FIRST SOLAR FINISAR

Camera Boost Wants to Make Your iPad 2 Camera a Little Less Terrible [Apps]

It seems oxymoronic to discuss stylized photos and the iPad 2 in the same breath, but Camera Boost, the latest iOS photo app, wants to help with the lack of camera apps made especially for the iPad. More »






NETWORK APPLIANCE NETGEAR

Microsoft patent application shows custom Kinect gestures, roaming user profiles

Since Kinect entered the world, modders have been hacking it for everything from playing Tetris to controlling a web browser. And really, Microsoft never seemed to mind. In case it wasn't obvious how much the company wants you to help find new uses for the technology, the folks in Redmond have filed a patent application for custom profiles. We can see that having implications for gaming and even Windows shortcuts, but for now Microsoft expects it to improve Kinect's accuracy by learning how you move -- after all, no one jumps or points or apes Lady Gaga's dance moves in exactly the same fashion, right? In other cases, the system might note that you prefer to make an "X" sign instead of a checkmark when selecting an object onscreen. And those personalized settings can roam over a network, shadowing you as you switch devices. Personally, we're stoked about the idea of making our best Julian Assange dance a bona fide gesture, but we'll be happy enough if Kinect can make up for our natural ungainliness.
Continue reading Microsoft patent application shows custom Kinect gestures, roaming user profilesMicrosoft patent application shows custom Kinect gestures, roaming user profiles originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink Being Manan  |  US Patent & Trademark Office  | Email this | Comments

JDA SOFTWARE GROUP JACK HENRY and ASSOCIATES

Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple

In news that will no doubt shake the very bedrock of your belief system, Apple has asked Toyota to remove its Scion theme and its advertising from ModMyi, a Cydia repository. The Scion theme has been available for weeks, but after it received a ton of press in the last couple of days, Apple finally lashed out.

It's not like we should be surprised, considering Apple has claimed in the past that jailbreaking is illegal -- but at the same time, did the Cupertino cronies hear about the ruling that made circumventing DRM, and thus jailbreaking, legal? Anyway, whether Toyota was supporting illegal, legal, or deliciously gray and ambiguous, activity, it doesn't matter: Apple asked Toyota to remove the theme, and Toyota graciously bent over and capitulated.

This story raises a much more interesting topic, though: this is the first time a multinational company has publicly acknowledged and embraced the jailbreak community. Considering jailbreaking is technically legal, and Cydia's creator, Jay Freeman, estimates that up to 9% of OS devices are jailbroken, it simply makes good, commercial sense to target jailbreakers with ads. Toyota was simply trying to make some money, for shame!

As long as Apple continues to throw around its increasingly-expansive mass, the legality of jailbreaking will continue to be inconsequential. It will be interesting to see if another big company dares embrace the jailbreak community after this, too.Toyota pulls Cydia theme and ads to appease Apple originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES (IBM) INTERDIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Logitech's Squeezebox Controller app makes the transition from Android to iOS

After launching the Squeezebox Controller app on Android last month, what could Logitech do next other than release a version for your iPod Touch, iPhone or iPad. The features and interface appear to be identical, letting users control any or all Squeezeboxes on the WiFi network complete with metadata and album art. iOS equipped owners of the 'boxes can get their AirPlay-free distributed audio lifestyle going by clicking the link below to download the free app (and see how it compares to the existing $9.99 third party iPeng remote app) from iTunes.Logitech's Squeezebox Controller app makes the transition from Android to iOS originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 10:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Blog.Logitech, iTunes  | Email this | Comments



SILICON LABORATORIES SI INTERNATIONAL

Install the Windows Phone 7 NoDo update regardless of your carrier

Some of you who own Windows Phone 7 devices are still waiting for your pre-NoDo preparation update -- never mind NoDo itself. A few workarounds have been posted, but unfortunately they didn't work unless your carrier had completed testing and was ready to schedule the update.

Now, however, the Chevron WP7 team's Chris Walshie has delivered a handy little utility that will allow you to update any Windows Phone 7 device -- regardless of your carrier.


Download and install the Windows Phone Support Tool (x86 or x64) and the ChevronWP7 Updater (x86 or x64)

Launch ChevronWP7 Updater and select your language. If your language isn't listed, stop and do not update.

If were running WP7 build 7004 (you can verify in Zune) then run the updater twice.

Once the process completes, you should be able to copy and paste to your heart's content. Let's just hope all this update foolishness gets sorted out before we're supposed to receive Mango.Install the Windows Phone 7 NoDo update regardless of your carrier originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

SALESFORCE COM SAIC

Evernote Web gets a new interface, Facebook sharing, and more

Evernote, the popular multi-platform 'digital memory' app, has done some serious re-tooling of its Web interface. In addition to a more polished UI that more closely mirrors the look of Evernote on the desktop, the update brings features like notebook stacks and snippet view to the Web.

Auto-saving is now enabled as well, and you can select multiple items by holding down the Cmd or Ctrl key on your Mac or Windows keyboard. If you've got items stored in your notebooks that you want to share with friends or co-workers, Evernote has improved that process, too. You can quickly post an item to Facebook, share it via email, or generate a Web sharing link to paste into an IM conversation or status update.

Head over to the Evernote Web login page to try out the new interface.Evernote Web gets a new interface, Facebook sharing, and more originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Artist Controls His Flame Art With a Cybernetic Glove, Not Superpowers [Video]

After watching this, I tend to think artist Sanela Jahic must have gone, "How can I create a masterpiece and look like an X-Man?" Fire Painting, the resulting project, makes art out of cybernetics, an Arduino, and lots of kerosene. More »






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Atomic Gardens, the Biotechnology of the Past, Can Teach Lessons About the Future of Farming [Republished]

One look at the wedge-shaped rows of plants and anyone could tell the circular garden was not grown under normal conditions. Plants sown in concentric circles displayed wildly different vitality and viability. More »






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The Week's Best iPad Apps [Video]

Qwiki: Qwiki for iPad, like their website, is like a visual Wikipedia. Which is to say it's a super pretty way to learn stuff. How so? Instead of delivering information in text and hyperlinks, Qwiki provides a narrative to the topics you search for with an audio commentary and relevant visuals. But! It ain't perfect. The voice that narrates each Qwiki is robotic and if you watch enough Qwiki entries, you'll notice that they're terribly formulaic. And though every presentation is super purrty, it only gives you bite sized nuggets of information. Free More »






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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Energizer Inductive Charger and iPhone 4 Qi Sleeve Review

The Energizer Inductive Charger and the iPhone 4 Qi (pronounced chee) Sleeve is the newest wireless charging system promising to simplify your charging experience for your myriad rechargable devices. It uses the Qi standard for charging, which is a global standard for wireless charging systems. What this should mean is that as more devices ship [...]

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Let Your iPhone Help You Find an iPad 2

If you still haven’t been able to find an iPad 2 in stock in your area, this iPhone app may be able to help you.� FindOne, available in the iTunes app store, uses your entered zip code to set up a search area, then it queries nearby superstore’s databases to find inventory.� You can specify [...]

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Dog Wars app is ruffling some users' fur -- and rightfully so

Judging from our inbox this morning, more than a few of you have discovered the Dog Wars app. We'd been hoping it would slink back into the depths from which it slithered, but such is not to be the case.Dog Wars, which some sort of horrific canine RPG, is doing its best to stoke the fires, announcing itself as "A GAME THAT WILL NEVER BE IN THE IPHONE APP STORE!!!" And you know what? Apple's App Store is better off for it. The developer, Kage Games, also wants you to know that "if you have a bug up your butt about the game concept, remember:"It is just A VIDEO GAMEPerhaps one day we will make gerbil wars or beta fish wars for people who can't understand fantasy role play gamesJust because something is illegal in real life in certain countries, does not mean it is illegal to make a song, movie, or video game about it (looking at you XDA Developer Forums... deleting our beta testing thread and banning our account?!)Just go slingshot some virtual birds to kill some virtual pigs.Go complain to someone who cares about Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Weed Farmer, Smoke a Bowl (these two are listed in the top 15 of casual games on Android Market) and maybe even Sierra's Leisure Suit Larry from 1987.This is listed as a HIGH MATURITY app, and does NOT violate the Terms of Use with the Google market in any way!!!A few of the one-star comments left in the Market:"This represents the truly revolting world of dog fighting, dogs are still stolen daily for fights. Remove it now!" - Alex"Hope you people get prison time for making this app." - devon"This is pretty awful... Downloaded this just to say how very wrong this is, both in real life and in fantasy." - nonfiniteAnd a couple of e-mails we've received:"This is so sick I can't believe it! Have you people learned nothing fromMichael Vick???? Way to encourage this disgusting violence against innocent animals.....studies indicate that most serial killers who hurt animals move on to people. This is SICK. WTF android????!!!!!" - Diane"I cannot believe that you as a leader in this industry would promote dogfighting with an app!! Dog wars should be removed from the android market! This is very disappointing for me and many others to see that Android would do this!" - DawnWe're not sure if the 50,000-250,000 download mark is because people downloaded the free beta just to leave 1-star comments (let's hope so), or if it's really that popular (let's hope not). But we do know this: If we were Google, we'd probably find some sort of term of use that Kage Games has broken -- or invent a new one -- and fast, and get this sort of thing out of the Market.Download links are not after the break. Here, however, is the the developer's e-mail address: pitboss@kagegames.com. Let 'em know how you feel. And tell 'em we sent ya.Dog Wars app is ruffling some users' fur -- and rightfully so posted originally by Android CentralSponsored by Android Cases and Accessories



SAIC SATYAM COMPUTER SERVICES

Microsoft?s Bing App for Apple iOS Devices

Microsoft has created a Bing search app for Apple’s iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad.� Bing displays “a visually rich, touch-enabled way to search and browse news, movies, Bing homepage images, local businesses, popular searches and much more.”� You can read movie listings, news articles, weather, traffic reports, and more on the touch-enabled screen.� Bing Local [...]

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The Spinning Rainbow OS X Beach Ball We Despise Is Now Real [Video]

Artist Ryder Ripps is apparently some sort of gifted internet genius-masochist, because he's made actual the virtual icon that terrorizes us all: the OS X beach ball. You see it spin. When will it stop spinning? Stop spinning. Please stop spinning. More »






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Google bids $900 million for Nortel's patents to protect against litigation trolls

Nortel, once one of the biggest telecoms company in the world but now in the death throes of bankruptcy, has selected Google's $900 million bid for its patent portfolio as the stalking horse bid. This doesn't mean that Google will automatically win Nortel's massive array of telecoms patents, but it does mean that Google is the preferred buyer.

Google, which has a history of lobbying for patent law reform, has been the target of many patent litigation suits. Google's relative infancy means that it has a lot less patents in the vault than big-hitters like Microsoft, Oracle and IBM, and buying Nortel's portfolio of 6,000 patents could provide better protection against patent litigation in the future. It's worth noting that both Apple and RIM have showed interested in the portfolio, too.

Mashable speculates that the patents -- which are nearly all telecoms-related -- will be used to defend against Oracle's attacks on Android's use of Java. We reckon that Google is simply looking to cover its future endeavors in the world of networking. In the absence of patent law reform, and continued threats to net neutrality, owning a bunch of telecoms patents sounds like a very sensible move.Google bids $900 million for Nortel's patents to protect against litigation trolls originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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How the iPad Has Helped Create More Jobs

Last week Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. made a comment about the iPad being a “job killer” which really got me thinking. My first reaction was how could someone possibly make such a statement? I have to say I totally disagree and I sincerely mean that in an unbiased way. Also, I mean absolutely no disrespect [...]

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TechCrunch Giveaway: Another Chance To Win A Ticket To Disrupt NYC #TechCrunch

Here is another chance to win a free ticket to this year's Disrupt in NYC. We have confirmed some incredible guests and speakers, a few of which we announced yesterday. We will continue to announce more as we lead up to Disrupt, along with a few special surprises as well.

We also announced some other exciting news yesterday. Disrupt NYC is so big this year, we have taken over a whole pier in New York City. We will be holding this year?s Disrupt NYC at Pier 94?overlooking the Hudson River in west Midtown Manhattan. At over 133,000 sq. ft., this venue is by far the largest venue we?ve ever had and will make for an amazing event. A special congratulations to Matt MaCarty for winning last week's giveaway.

This promises to be our biggest Disrupt yet. If you want a chance at winning this free ticket, all you have to do is follow the steps below.

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Natty Narwhal About to Surface

Canonical is releasing its Ubuntu 11.04 suite of corporate and developer desktops and servers -- aka "Natty Narwhal" -- on April 28. New features include a technology preview for Ubuntu Server 11.04, which is downloadable through the Ubuntu software repositories. Ubuntu 11.04 for the corporate desktop includes the Unity interface, which debuted last year in Ubuntu 10.10, geared for netbooks.

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Google Voice Search learns Latin American Spanish, Indonesian, and Malaysian

Google Voice Search has just introduced localizations for Latin America, Indonesia and Malaysia, enabling native language search for hundreds of millions of users.

Google's official blog post offers some interesting insights into the process of collecting and analyzing the speech data needed to expand support. Thousands of hours were spent gathering voice samples and choosing key regional accents to analyze, and International Program Manager Linne Ha is clearly very appreciative of the Google users who helped the company complete the expansion. Without an enthusiastic base of users to lend a hand, Google Voice Search's polyglot powers would have been nearly impossible to deliver.Google Voice Search learns Latin American Spanish, Indonesian, and Malaysian originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Friday, April 22, 2011

Add a Windows 8 user tile to your Windows 7 taskbar

Now that Windows 8 images have begun leaking out, it's only a matter of time until developers start releasing mods for Windows 7 which mimic upcoming features. Over at Into Windows, they've spotted one such mod already.

In the earliest Windows 8 images, we saw Windows Live integration on the taskbar. In the far right corner, there's a user tile displayed. If you'd like to do the same on Windows 7, download Taskbar User Tile from DeviantArt user AngelWZR.

Once installed, your current picture will appear on the taskbar. Click it, and a menu appears which allows you to log off, switch users, and access the control panel. Right now, the mod only works if your taskbar is displayed on the bottom of your Windows desktop.Add a Windows 8 user tile to your Windows 7 taskbar originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Scrabble Helper helps you improve your Words With Friends gameplay

If you play Scrabble (or a scrabble-like game) from time to time, you may want to check out Scrabble Helper. This simple website is a godsend when you're at a loss for words. Simply enter whatever letters you have, and the word you'd like to connect with. Scrabble helper comes up with a whole bunch of suggestions sorted by score.

The site lets you select one of five dictionaries - Scrabble International/US, Lexulous International/US, and Words With Friends. Some people might say this constitutes cheating -- I think if the other side knows you're doing it, it's definitely not cheating. And it doesn't take the challenge out of the game, because implementing Scrabble Helper's suggestions and deciding which words you'd like to connect with still takes a fair bit of thought.

Very handy, though perhaps not one for the Scrabble puritans in the crowd.Scrabble Helper helps you improve your Words With Friends gameplay originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

INFOCUS ZORAN

US Army developing Android-based smartphone framework and apps

The US Army is calling upon Android app developers to help make military life a little less stressful -- and, perhaps, a lot safer. Under a new Army framework known as the Mobile/Handheld Computing Environment (CE), third-party developers will be able to create and submit tactical Android apps, using the military's CE Product Developer's Kit. The framework, originally prototyped by the folks over at MITRE, represents the latest phase in the Army's ongoing campaign to incorporate smartphone technology on the battlefield. Any app operating under the CE system will be interoperable across all command systems, and, as you'd expect, will be tightly secured. The kit won't be released to developers until July, but the Army has already begun tinkering with its baseline suite of Mission Command apps, which includes tools designed to facilitate mapping, blue force tracking, and Tactical Ground Reporting. On the hardware side of the equation, the Army is planning to deploy a new handheld known as the Joint Battle Command-Platform, or JBC-P. The two-pound JBC-P is essentially a military-friendly smartphone designed to run on a variety of existing radio networks, while supporting the full suite of forthcoming apps. The JBC-P will be tested this October, and will likely be issued on a wider basis in 2013.US Army developing Android-based smartphone framework and apps originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink The Register  |  Defense Aerospace  | Email this | Comments



IBASIS HYPERCOM

Samsung strikes back at Apple with ten patent infringement claims

This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone: in the latest chapter of the Apple-Samsung dispute over their smartphones' resemblance, the latter company has just retaliated by filing lawsuits against Apple in three countries. Sammy's load of ammo includes five patent infringements in South Korea, two in Japan, and three in Germany, though we've yet to hear more details about these claims. Now we just sit back and enjoy the show -- popcorn, anyone?

[Thanks, Jake L.]

Update: Reuters has shed some light on the actual patents Samsung is alleging are being infringed. The news organization reports they relate to "power reduction during data transmission, 3G technology for reducing errors during data transmission, and wireless data communication technology."Samsung strikes back at Apple with ten patent infringement claims originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink   |  Samsung  | Email this | Comments



EARTHLINK DST SYSTEMS

Gargantuan SQL injection infects 3.8 million URLs, installs rogue antivirus

Over the last few days, a mass SQL injection attack has been quickly gathering speed. Just three days ago only 28,000 URLs were affected, but at the time of writing, there could be up to 3.8 million infected URLs.

Websense has a complete write up the attack, dubbed 'LizaMoon,' but here's the basic gist: it looks like someone is exploiting a vulnerabilty (or vulnerabilities) in hundreds of thousands of websites running on Microsoft SQL Server 2003 and 2005. It's not yet known whether this is a vulnerability in SQL Server, or simply a case of outdated, unmaintained, and easily-exploitable CMSes.

The attack takes the form of an SQL injection, which then inserts a link to a JavaScript file hosted on the attacker's server. This is repeated over and over until every Web page in the SQL database has been infected -- and considering 3.8 million URLs have been infected, you can see that this is a very easy, and automated, attack.

Fortunately, the JavaScript isn't particularly malicious: it pops up a rogue AV program called Windows Stability Center, but that's it. Better yet, the rogue antivirus is already recognized by a bunch of real antivirus suites, including Avast, Panda and Microsoft Security Essentials.

The real problem with SQL injection attacks is that there's nothing we surfers can do about them. There will always be old and unmaintained websites, and thus SQL injections will remain one of the easiest and most lucrative tools of hackers and spammers alike. All you can do is keep your antivirus and anti-malware software up to date, and pray.Gargantuan SQL injection infects 3.8 million URLs, installs rogue antivirus originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Samsung countersues Apple for patent infringement

Samsung has countersued Apple for the infringement of 5 patents, this in response to Apple’s suit against Samsung for patent and trademark violations filed earlier this week.


“Samsung is responding actively to the legal action taken against us in order to protect our intellectual property and to ensure our continued innovation and growth in [...]Samsung countersues Apple for patent infringement is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store. TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

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Security firm RSA attacked using Excel-Flash one-two sucker punch

It has emerged that the underlying cause of RSA's SecurID gaffe was the recently-reported zero-day vulnerability found in Adobe's Flash Player.

The exploit, which used specially-crafted Flash embedding in Excel spreadsheets, was first reported on March 15 and has since been fixed. RSA was hacked sometime in the first half of March when an employee was successfully spear phished and opened an infected spreadsheet. As soon as the spreadsheet was opened, an advanced persistent threat (APT) -- a backdoor Trojan -- called Poison Ivy was installed. From there, the attackers basically had free reign of RSA's internal network, which led to the eventual dissemination of data pertaining to RSA's two-factor authenticators.

The attack is reminiscent of the APTs used in the China vs. Google attacks from last year -- and indeed, Uri Rivner, the head of new technologies at RSA is quick to point out that that other big companies are being attacked, too: "The number of enterprises hit by APTs grows by the month; and the range of APT targets includes just about every industry. Unofficial tallies number dozens of mega corporations attacked [...] These companies deploy any imaginable combination of state-of-the-art perimeter and end-point security controls, and use all imaginable combinations of security operations and security controls. Yet still the determined attackers find their way in."

What we'd like to know, though, is whether the attack on RSA was caused by Adobe's lackadaisical approach to patching Flash -- or was it the other way around? Was it the RSA attack that first brought the zero-day vulnerability to Adobe's attention?Security firm RSA attacked using Excel-Flash one-two sucker punch originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 06:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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